Friday, 25 September 2015

The MAD blog awards, a night away and the start of nesting..

Happy Friday folks! Wilf and I have been full of cold all week and this is my first real day to chill out (currently in the biggest chunkiest knitted jumper, hey Autumn!). I'm finally getting round to sharing my thoughts from this time last week and the MAD blog awards. It feels like so long ago now but I think that's because these past two weeks have been quite full on. I'm really ready to start nesting now!

Anyway, back to last Friday. Myself and my good friend Nichola from Globalmouse Travels set off on the train together, coffees in hand and getting a rare chance for uninterrupted chat (we often meet with our kiddos but Wilf does like to steal the show with lots of talking and showing off! ;)). We were both lucky enough to be finalists for awards that night (her for Travel, me for Homes and Interiors) and after arriving in Paddington and a short tube to Tower Hill we headed to our apartment for the evening and to get ready for the night ahead.

We stayed at the Go Native apartment in America Sqaure which was the perfect base. For this particular apartment the minimum stay is usually a week but they have lots of other London apartments with smaller stay requirements. I loved how contemporary the aesthetics were and it had everything you'd need for a stay in the city without feeling fussy and was stylish without feeling over the top. If we'd had a chance to stay longer it was also the perfect location to spot some real iconic landmarks like the tower of London and all the beautiful grand buildings in the area.

How beautiful are these buildings? I love that you can see the Gherkin peeking out against all the old architecture.

Our apartment was kitted out with a kitchen with all mod cons which is perfect for self catering, also a washing machine & dryer if you were staying the week. As it was we were situated above Pret so we headed down to pick up hot chocolates to drink in our cosy living room before changing into our outfits for the awards ahead of us.

I have to admit it was a little daunting attending an event at seven months pregnant and being sober but as soon as I'd met up with some of my favourite blogger pals I was at ease. It was a brilliant evening (even if I was up SO much later than my usual bedtime ;)). I didn't win my category but the lovely Kerry from Oh So Amelia did which was much deserved. I got to hang out with my fellow finalist Becky from Spirited Puddle Jumper who was on my table and also a Caro from The Twinkle Diaries so I did come away with some new friends!

Thanks ever so much to everyone who nominated and voted for me in the awards, it means to much to me! xx

p.s if you are interested, details of my outfit in the top pic are in this post

Nichola and I were guests at the Go Native apartment but all words and thoughts are my own